ED ATLAS

MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT WORKING WITH YOUNG PLAYERS IS GIVING PLAYERS CONFIDENCE AND BUILDING SELF ESTEEM. I CAN TEACH AND COACH PLAYERS WITHOUT YELLING AND SCREAMING, YET I’M ABOUT TO INSTILL MENTAL TOUGHNESS.

My favorite thing about working with young players is giving players confidence and building self esteem, empowering them with life skills as a by product. I can teach and coach players without yelling and screaming, yet I’m able to instill mental toughness. The SDC scholarship Camps are a tremendous benefit to players and parents. SDC Scholarship Camps are a perfect complement to my program and will enable me to work with more players within the DMV area.

The flow I see primarily in the AAU culture is where coaches play to win and do not emphasize development of the total player. Starting five plus two players off the bench receive all the attention, while the remainders are left behind. This is not a good look, particularly on travel teams. My philosophy of coaching is “No player left behind or warming the bench.”

Ed Atlas is a true ambassador of the game. He is the former Director of player personnel and skill development for Hoop Mountain Mid Atlantic Boys, hosting college exposure showcases. Ed has also coaches 40 plus years with YMCA, US Army Dependent Youth Activities, Boys & Girls Clubs, several AAU teams. Ed has served as the freshmen assistant coach at St. John’s HS, Washington, DC and assistant junior varsity coach at Potomac HS, Oxon Hill, MD.

Ed played 23 years with US Army Basketball teams (stationed at bases in SC, TX, OK, VA, DCI). The White House and The Pentagon, MD, South Korea, and Turkey, including a year with a semi-pro team in Instanbul Turkey. He is also an accomplished author, and has published two books “Basketball Visionestics: Mental Preparation for Better Play” and “Hempstead Basketball”. Currently found and director of Atlas Hoops Basketball Academy.